Chiclana de la Frontera

Last night we took a final stroll around Tavira and took a last few photos before retiring to Marge.

Two weeks ago, the Algarve encountered heavy rain, the first in five months. It was on that particular day that we drove across the border from Spain, encountering a wet, miserable town in Northern Portugal. Today, we were leaving Southern Portugal and the weather could could not have been different. Dry, blue skies, and a temperature around 30c at lunchtime.

We had intended just to travel for a short while, stopping just over the border into Southern Spain. But in this particular area, it is difficult to find suitable overnight stops.

Just before lunch, we passed through the Portuguese town of Castro Marim, stopping at the aire to offload Marge's wast water, and top up with some for drinking. We could see the castle up on the hill, and decided to park up Marge and take a look. Being a little reckless, we paid the entry fee. 1.10 euros for one adult, and 0.55 cents for John, who decided he was near enough to sixty five to qualify for the concession.

The castle was a large ruin, with one room dedicated to the gruesome torture of medieval times, all rather unpleasant and upsetting.

However, the views from the castle walls were amazing, across the town, salt pans and into Spain. The stop at Castro Marim was unplanned, so it was pass lunchtime by the time we left, crossing into Spain at two fifteen Portuguese time, which suddenly became three fifteen Spanish time. "Bienvenido al sur de Espana Marge". "Welcome to Southern Spain Marge". We left Portugal with mixed feelings. We'd enjoyed the low speed limits, the fact the young people did not buzz around on scooters, the scenery, the Atlantic coast, the geology and the fact we could park Marge almost anywhere overnight. We did not like the price of diesel, mountain roads, the fact the Portuguese drivers do not indicate, and the barking dogs. But all that said, we will be back one day to explore more of the country, away from the coast, and brave the mountains. Of all the countries we have visited, they have all left us wanting to see more.

Our planned overnight stop this evening was scuppered by a circus, that was in the town for three nights. After some investigation, the next stop that seemed nice and safe was a two and a half hour drive in the direction of Cadiz. So we set off, luckily having an hour of our lives in hand, as we were still on Portuguese time. The journey involved negotiating the ring road of Seville, which being a Saturday was relatively quiet, but all the same, we were glad when we drove over the suspension bridge and out of the city. A city that as we approached it, stretched as far as the eye could see.

Our arrival at Playa de la Barossa beach, Chiclana de la Frontera, Andulucia, at eight fifteen this evening, coincided with a fabulous sunset. After, as darkness fell, we took a short walk out, in the sky a chewed pie of a moon shone, casting its silvery light on to the waters of the Atlantic. Despite the long day, and hours of driving, we were glad we had made the choice to come here.